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The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Hajiya Fatima Sugra Tabi’a Mahmood, has met with the management of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to strengthen safety awareness and improve service delivery across Nigeria’s inland waterways.
The Abuja meeting focused on acquainting the Permanent Secretary with NIWA’s operations and evaluating how its programmes align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Acting Managing Director of NIWA, Alhaji Yusuf Umar Girei, led the management team in briefing Mahmood on the Authority’s mandate, vision and mission, key achievements, and operational challenges.
He said NIWA has continued to implement impactful initiatives in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, while sustaining collaboration with the private sector to enhance efficiency, expand services, and improve navigation, infrastructure and safety nationwide.
Mahmood commended NIWA’s efforts and stressed the need to scale up safety sensitisation. She urged the Authority to extend awareness campaigns to religious centres to reach a wider audience of water users and operators.
She also called for stronger collaboration with sister agencies, improved human capital development, enhanced media engagement for public enlightenment, and regular progress updates to the Ministry.
Officials from the Ministry present included the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Hajiya Kalthum Ibrahim; the Director of Maritime Services, Mr. Oyinloye Adeola Meshack; and other senior staff.
The NIWA delegation included General Managers Naziru Biyankare (Legal Services), Dan’Azumi Muazu (Planning, Research and Statistics), Engr. Dakio Horsefall (Marine Services), Engr. Fidelis Ejike (Engineering Services), and Surv. Henry Adimoha (Survey Services).
